Salem splits doubleheader with Myrtle Beach

The Salem Red Sox lost game one of Thursday’s doubleheader 3-2 in eight innings, and won game two 3-1 over the Myrtle Beach Pelicans. The teams played two shortened games after Wednesday night’s contest was postponed due to rain.

In game one, Henry Owens allowed two runs (zero earned) on three hits in six and two thirds innings. But he had to settle for the no decision as his team fell. Owens struck out four, but also walked four. He has now walked 14 hitters in his last three starts combined.

Nefi Ogando took the loss and fell to 2-2 after allowing the eventual winning run to score in the top of the 8^th. Rougned Odor walked, and scored on a Trever Adams triple. Overall, Ogando pitched one and one third innings, allowing one run on one hit and one walk.

Myrtle Beach starter Luke Jackson gave up two runs in six innings and got a no decision. Reliever Joe Van Meter came away with the win, pitching two scoreless innings and moving to 3-4.

Trailing 2-0, Salem evened the score in the fifth. Stefan Welch blooped a two-RBI single to left that plated David Renfroe and Deven Marrero. Salem put multiple runners on base in the seventh and eighth, but failed to capitalize both times.

In the top of the second inning of game one, Renfroe committed an error on an Adams grounder to third base. After a single, a walk, and a pop out, a 4-6 fielder’s choice groundout by Jake Skole plated one run. On the play, Marrero sailed a throw wide of first base, which scored a second run. Neither run was charged to Owens.

Game two was dominated by Mickey Pena and Matt Gedman. Pena tossed seven innings, giving up one run (zero earned), three hits, and two walks. He struck out four, and picked up the win to improve to 4-4. Myrtle Beach starter Nick Martinez went six innings, allowed three runs, and fell to 7-6 with the loss. Both game two starters were credited with a complete game.

Gedman drove home all three Red Sox runs. His single in the second inning scored Tim Roberson and Mookie Betts. His double in the fourth scored Cody Koback.

Henry Ramos extended his hit streak to 15 games in game one, but ended it by going 0-for-3 in game two.

Game two spanned a mere one hour and 38 minutes. And thankfully so, because rain began pouring down in the game’s final minutes.

Salem now enters the second leg of its homestand with a four-game series against the Potomac Nationals. Kyle Stroup will take the mound for the Red Sox against Brian Rauh Friday 7:05 pm.